Violin mute



Oct. 27, 1931. w. BTNGHAM 1,829,469

VIOLIN MUTE Filed Jan. 9, 1950 Jnoewtoz W fiz'nyimm,

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Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM BINGHAM, OF NEWLLANO, LOUISIANA VIOLIN MUTE Application filed January 9, 1980. Serial No. 419,641.

This invention relates to an attachment for a violin or other stringed instrument for the purpose of softening the tone and also changing the sound of the instrument instantly and at the will of the musician while playing.

It is aimed to provide a novel construction whereby the end mentioned may be accomplished and especially a construction wherein the control is by the chin of the musician.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a violin using the attachment constructed in accordance with the invention, a

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing one angle of position of the mute bar, and

Figure 6 is an edge or end View of the mute bar alone.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the body of the violin or equivalent stringed musical instrument is shown fragmentarily and conventionally at 10 since specific construction forms no part of the invention. Theusual tail piece is shown at 11 fastened by a loop at 12 to a button 13. The strings 14 are fastened in the usual way to the tail piece 11 and pass over the usual bridge 15 and beyond the same are fastened to the body in the usual manner.

In carrying out the invention, a mute bar 16 is used which is normally free of the bridge 15 but which has depending bifurcated lugs 17 whose slots or bifurcations 18 may each receive or engage the upper portion of the bridge 15, frictionally, or either one of them may engage the same frictionally as shown in Figure 5, in order to soften the tone of the instrument. A holder 19 is provided for the mute member or bar 16 and such holder mema her is in the form of a resilient metallic wire or the like, the forward end of which is inserted into anopening 20 of the mute member and which member is fastened in adjusted position about the axis of the holder 19 by means of a set screw 21 carried by the mute member and which set screw may be knurled or of any particular construction desired. Said holder 19 at a portion 22 extends under the tail piece 11, thence outwardly therefrom and upwardly, as shown at 22, and thence rearwardly at 23 along one side thereof and terminates in a securing portion 24 arranged a at aright angle to the portion 23 and so as to have a hook 25 adapted to be passed under the loop 12 and between the head of button 13 and the end of the body 10, the free end 26 of the holder abutting a flange 27 at the upper edge of the body 10. The rear portion 23 when in position is slightly above the plane of the upper surface of tail piece 11 as shown in Figure 1. In this way the holder is secured in place so that it may be readily removed without disturbing the strings or other parts and so as not to interfere with replacement of strings or the like.

A conventional chin rest 28 is shown in Figure 2 and secured in a conventional manner, as shown at 29, and when used on the instrument, the rear portion 23 of the holder 19 is above it.

Normally the holder is in contact under and with the tail piece at 22 and the mute 16 is out of contact with the bridge 15, the mute being fastened to the holder at the desired angle so that both lugs 17 willengage the bridge or a single one will engage the same as preferred. In the operation of the device when it becomes necessary. or desirable to mute the tone the musician presses his chin on portion 23 and causes the holder to move downwardly and to cause either or both lugs 17, according to the adjustment of the mute, to engage the bridge 15 and accordingly mute or change the tone. I v p The mute may be made of soft brass, for example.

The openings 18 are of such size and slightly smaller than the thickness of the bridge 15 so that the mute can be pressed on the bridge by hand when it is desired to remain thereon. The mute will cause a different tone to be produced when it contacts with either the right or left hand side of the bridge 15, as well as when contacting with both sides.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention r 1. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a loop on the tail piece and engageable with a button on the body of the instrument, a mute engageable with the bridge of the instrument, a holder for said mute having a hook and an extension adapted to engage respectively said button and a portion of the instrument body to hold the mute in position, and said holder provided with means adapted for engagement by a musicians chin to hold the mute in engagement with the bridge.

2. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a loop on the tail piece and engageable with a button on the body of the instrument, a mute engageable with the bridge of the instrument, a holder for said mute having a hook and an extension adapted to engage respectively said button and a portion of the instrument body to hold the mute in position, saidholder being resilient and normally maintaining the mute out of engagement with the bridge, and an elevated portion of said holder extending above the tail piece for engagement by a musicians chin to hold the mutein engagement with the bridge of the instrument.

8. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a ail piece, a loop extending ierefrom and a securing button therefor on the body of the instrument, a resilient holder extending partly under the tail piece, said holder having an angular end provided with a hook engaging under the loop and about the button, said hook having a terminal abutting a portion of the body, a mute on the other end of the holder, means to secure the mute at different angles, said mute being normally disengaged with the bridge of the instrument and oper ble to engage the same, and an elevated portion on the holder adapted to be engaged by a musicians chin to control the operation of the holder and mute.

i. A mute for stringed musical instruments, a bar adapted to engage the bridge of a musical instrument, a resilient rod secured at one end to said bar and provided with a hook adjacent to its otner end to engage a tail pin on the instrument, said rod being adapted to hold the bar remote from the bridge, and the rod provided with an elevated portion for engagement by a musicians chin to move the bar into engagement with the bridge.

In testimony whereof I il-ifiX my signature.

WVILLIAM BIN GHALI. 

